From Depressed To Confident And Contributing – Exclusive Interview With Effie Mitskopoulos

Effie was a happy, silly child who excelled in school and gymnastics. But raised in a home with inter-generational trauma and an aggressive father, her light was dulled, and by her teens, she was constantly nervous, deeply depressed, and hated herself. This interview reveals how she turned her life around to become the founder of Soul Body Healer, a Master’s level Social Worker and Holistic Psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, yoga teacher, Reiki Master, co-author, and speaker dedicated to transforming lives. She does this by mastering the techniques that helped her heal and sharing these powerful tools with others.

Effie Mitskopoulos, Social Worker Psychotherapist and Coach

Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.

Hi, I'm Effie Mitskopoulos. I am so grateful that gratitude fills my life now, thanks to the healing of my mind and actively creating a beautiful life. It's a continuous journey that requires daily mindful moments and self-care, which can be challenging while raising a toddler, maintaining a home, and growing a business. I cherish my family, the beautiful gift of my daughter, my loving husband, our home, our connection to the community, and my contributions to my work in helping others. I love to read and write for my mind, have meaningful conversations with good friends for connection, and practice yoga and fitness at the studio where I teach for physical, mental, and social well-being. I am also deeply spiritual, reminding myself that I am a powerful being of Light, that is connected to All That Is. This is why facilitating Reiki is so important to me. I experience energy, the reality of existence, and this is pivotal to my healing and building a meaningful life.

What inspired you to create Soul Body Healer, and what is the core mission of your business?

The inspiration for Soul Body Healer came from my struggles with mental health. I know firsthand how debilitating these issues can be and that it is possible to heal from them. I wanted to create a compassionate space where others, especially women, could heal, rediscover their worth, and build fulfilling lives just like I did. It wasn't years of therapy or anti-depressants that did this for me. What helped me was holistic healing, going into the operating system of my mind, moving my body, connecting spiritually, and cleansing energetically. I've engaged in conventional therapy, regularly practice yoga (Kundalini being the most powerful), mindfulness, and meditation, and have healed issues through hypnosis and Reiki. I've also engaged in multiple spiritual coaching groups empowering myself. So I pursued all of this in training to offer a range of holistic healing opportunities to others.

The core mission of Soul Body Healer is to help individuals empower themselves to overcome their struggles, build meaningful lives, and shine. They become their own healer- of mind, body, and soul. Everyone has special gifts, and the potential to heal and thrive, and I’m committed to providing the tools and support to help people achieve that.

Can you explain the main healing modalities you offer and how they benefit your clients?

At Soul Body Healer, I offer a range of healing modalities, including holistic psychotherapy, hypnosis, mindfulness, yoga, Reiki, and Spiritual Coaching. Each approach addresses different aspects of healing and is customized into a unique healing experience for each unique individual.

• Psychotherapy uncovers and releases negative beliefs, thought patterns, and behaviours, replacing them with healthier ones. It allows clients to break free from old cycles and embrace positive change. I predominantly use Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy.

• Mindfulness and meditation strengthen attention, concentration, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. It helps clients manage their emotional states and feel more pleasant emotions more often. It enhances compassion, and empathy, and improves relationships. It cultivates a profound sense of peace and can deepen awareness and connection to a person's inner self and Higher Power.

• Hypnosis taps into the mind's 'operating system', allowing for quicker and easier transformations, whether mental, emotional, or behavioural. It facilitates lasting change by shifting unconscious programs. Because it is a meditative state, all of the benefits of meditation apply.

• Reiki clears energy blockages, balances the body’s energy systems, and enhances overall well-being, promoting inner harmony and revitalizing life force. Since every dis-ease stems from an energetic imbalance, its applications for healing are vast. I also offer training so individuals can apply this energy for self-healing and facilitate healing for others.

• Yoga releases unresolved emotions, strengthens organs, glands, and the nervous and immune systems, and purifies the blood. It promotes holistic well-being by fostering a deep connection between the body, mind, and soul. The breath work, movements, and meditations of Kundalini yoga, which I incorporate into psychotherapy and coaching, are particularly powerful.

• Spiritual Coaching helps clients release limitations, connect with their true selves, and realize their power as master manifesters so they create their desired lives.

• The 12-week transformational coaching group, “Radiant Mind: Transform Thoughts, Create Peace, Manifest Joy”, is a comprehensive journey of self-discovery and healing, combining psychology, mindfulness, hypnosis, neuroscience, yoga, and spiritual coaching. Where clients integrate life-changing tools, personalized support, and a supportive community to calm their minds, banish negative thoughts, and improve mood. Then they use their powerful mind and energy being to unlock their potential, gain clarity and direction, and manifest the life of their dreams!

How do you approach integrating mind, body, and spirit in your healing practices?

Integrating mind, body, and spirit is at the heart of my approach to healing. Your health, energy, and vitality are linked to your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour. Many conditions stem from mental-emotional-energetic causes, so addressing all aspects of an individual is essential. For instance, if you have a physical ailment, we might explore the mental/emotional cause. I might offer a specific breathing technique, yoga pose or movement, or meditation for your issue. In hypnosis, we might ask your subconscious mind, soul, or unconscious part of you for wisdom in releasing the issue. We might do energy work or I could give you cognitive or behavioural exercises. I customize modalities and use your terminology so the treatment resonates with you. We create your treatment together. This holistic integration addresses root causes and promotes lasting change and harmony. I treat clients as a whole person, compassionately helping them uncover and release the root causes of their distress, establish healthy thought and behaviour patterns, and live in conscious creation rather than from a place of distress or trauma.

 Could you share a success story or a significant transformation that a client experienced through your services?

While I can't provide specific testimonials due to professional guidelines, I can share a general example. Treatment can be short. I had a client who extinguished a phobia of elevators in just two hypnosis sessions. However, with more complex distress, a journey of sessions with blended treatments is more likely. For instance, my client presenting with PTSD, chronic pain, depression and suicidal thoughts, who couldn't enjoy life anymore was able to find significant and lasting relief and enjoy life again. Mindfulness and hypnosis helped manage chronic pain and fears, and a particular hypnosis session removed depression. Years later, this client reached out to send me a referral and shared how they continue to enjoy life and vacations with their spouse, which warms my heart!

What advice would you give to someone who is new to holistic healing and looking to start their journey?

For anyone new to holistic healing, I encourage you to approach the journey with curiosity and an open heart. Explore different modalities that resonate with you, from conventional therapies to mindfulness, and different types of yoga, and energy work. Remember that healing is a process that requires patience and self-compassion. Seek out qualified practitioners who align with your values and can guide you on your path. Most importantly, honour your unique journey and be gentle with yourself as you navigate this transformative experience.

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

There have been many transformative experiences on my healing journey, each with different treatments. A pivotal moment for me happened while volunteering at a conference. I was in a depressive episode and feeling very insecure, and wandered off to be alone during a talk by Brian Weiss, MD. He led the room in a group hypnosis session. I felt a powerful sensation of white light washing away the depression. The dark cloud lifted and I was left feeling confident and unconditionally loved. I went home singing and smiling, the depression was gone! I no longer experience depressive episodes. That moment solidified my mission to facilitate similar healing for others. A yoga class attendee once said, 'If you're ever a hypnotherapist, I'd like to go to you, you have the best voice for it.' This reinforced my path. I know healing is possible, and I am here to help you achieve it.

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